Bayside Market in San Francisco closes due to crime – NBC Bay Area

The owner of a market in San Francisco has to close his business after 35 years. He justifies this with crime and the lack of protection for employees.

For some long-time customers of Bayside Market, the letter taped to their front door announcing the market's closure came as a bitter blow.

“We are disappointed that our beautiful neighborhood store is closing, even though it was obviously a central part of the community,” said Rusell Anderson, a customer of the market.

Bayside Market owner David Pesusic said the costs of running a small business are increasing by thousands due to rising commodity prices, insurance and his monthly electric and gas bills. But the safety of his employees and the often violent responses they receive when they catch regular shoplifters are the main reason he is closing his store.

“It sucks. This is my livelihood,” he said. “Some of them refuse to give it back. Fight us, try to fight us, or they say, 'Go ahead and call the police.' I wait for the police to come. And they laugh in your face because they know they're not going to come.”

In addition to the harassment and violence, Pesusic also had to board up his windows at closing time because of repeated break-ins. For these reasons, the Bayside Market will remain closed on Friday.

Pesusic said he blames policymakers at San Francisco City Hall for some of the problems he has observed.

Matt Dorsey, supervisor of San Francisco's 6th District, said he hopes to persuade Pesusic to return when public safety improves.

But Pesusic said there was another challenge, namely a big drop in customer traffic during the week because nearby technicians simply hadn't returned to the offices. He said he would continue to operate a second store in Sansome, which had managed to retain some of its regular customers.